Greater Lafayette Indivisible

Welcome to a supplemental edition of the Greater Lafayette Indivisible (“GLI”) newsletter.  Here are all of the things that have popped up since the main edition of our newsletter a few weeks ago.

We’re imagining that activism is like a waterway that builds in intensity.  In addition to calls to action, we’ll also provide information about upcoming events and opportunities to foster community, good news, and places in which we’re finding inspiration.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up to receive future editions by clicking here.

Ripples (small direct actions)

• The Good Samaritan Project is hosting a “Spring Fling” as part of their Family Enrichment Program on Thursday, March 20, from 5:30 to 7 pm at River City Community Center (2842 Old US 231, Lafayette).  You can find more information on their website (linked above) and in their Facebook event.
  
• Pride Lafayette is holding its first ever Rainbow Gala on Saturday, March 22, at 5 pm at the Holiday Inn Lafayette-City Centre (501 South St, Lafayette).  Titled “Athenian Nights,” the evening will be hosted by Indiana Drag Legend (and Miss Gay Indiana 1995) Vicki St. James, and it will raise money to support Pride Lafayette’s year-round programming serving Greater Lafayette’s LGBTQ+ community.  You can find more information here and in their Facebook event.
  
• The City of West Lafayette Park Allies will host an AmeriCorps member-led invasive removal workday at Happy Hollow Park on Wednesday, April 9, from 1 to 3 pm.  You can find more information and sign up here.

• It’s almost time to get vegetable gardens ready for spring planting!  Consider participating in one of the garden workdays that GrowLocal Lafayette will be planning.  GrowLocal Lafayette’s mission is to support and encourage urban gardening through action, education, and organization, and in turn, enhance community and quality of life throughout our neighborhoods.  They currently have 9 urban gardens around Lafayette that help to build, nourish, and nurture community.  You can follow them on Facebook and sign up here to volunteer with them.

Rush (action at the county level)

• Alex Chavez and Will Persin, in partnership with the Hoosier Human Rights Initiative, have organized a People’s Protest on Saturday, March 15.  Protesters will meet at the Margerum Fountain near Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette at 11:30 am and march across the pedestrian bridge to the courthouse.  The main protest at the courthouse will begin around 12 pm.  There will be speakers and opportunities to connect with local organizations to learn how to support marginalized communities in Tippecanoe County.

Roar (action at the national level)

• U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin is encouraging all U.S. citizens to join him in filing formal demands for access to their personal data obtained by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk.  You can read more here.
  
• If you feel like making a road trip to Indy, Indivisible Central Indiana and Hoosiers for Democracy are hosting a Todd Young “Empty Chair” Town Hall on Wednesday, March 19, from 6-8 pm at Broadway United Methodist Church (609 E 29th Street, Indianapolis).  Since Senator Young is unable to join them, they will record this event and send it to his office.  Bring your questions and concerns that you would like to share with him. You can sign up via Mobilize here.

• GLI is hosting a “Where’s Baird? A town hall for Representative Jim Baird” on Sunday, March 30, from 2-3 pm in the Walnut Room at the West Lafayette Public Library (208 W Columbia Street, West Lafayette, second floor).  Representative Baird has publicly stated that he has no intention of meeting with constituents during this congressional recess.  Since he will most likely refuse our invitation to join the Town Hall, we will hold it without him.
  
  Even though we expect him to ignore our event, we still encourage folks to attend the meeting, and to bring with you your signs, your stories, and your questions.  If you’d rather not share your own story, it’s ok write it down and ask a friend to read it.  Remember: it’s easy for elected officials to think of us as a mass of nameless and faceless people who just happen to live in their district.  We want Rep. Baird to know that we, his constituents, are real people with real struggles, and that his self-serving decisions negatively impact us in measurable ways.
  
  You can sign up to attend the town hall meeting via Mobilize here.
  
  When visiting the WLPL: In addition to street parking, parking is also available in the garage across the street at 117 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette.  The Library staff can validate your ticket at the front desk.

• In preparation for the Town Hall, GLI is hosting a sign-making party on Wednesday, March 26, from 6-7 pm in the Elm Room at the West Lafayette Public Library (208 W Columbia Street, West Lafayette, second floor.  We’ll provide poster board, markers, and snacks, but you’re welcome to bring your poster board, supplies, and poignant slogans, and join us for an evening of productive camaraderie.  You can sign up via Mobilize here.
  
  When visiting the WLPL: In addition to street parking, parking is also available in the garage across the street at 117 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette.  The Library staff can validate your ticket at the front desk.

• Save the date for Friday, April 4 — Indivisible national is planning an event, but we don’t have details yet.

Opportunities to build community

• The Purdue University LGBTQ Center is hosting their annual Transgender Day of Visibility Block Party on Saturday, March 29, from 4-7 pm at the LGBTQ Center, which is in the Hicks Undergraduate Library (HIKS), Room G988 (504 W State Street, West Lafayette).  There will be community crafts, games, networking and resources, and a fabulous drag show will follow from 7-9 pm at Fowler Hall (1st floor of the Stewart Center, 128 Memorial Mall Drive, West Lafayette).  You can find more information in their Facebook post. 

• Fuel Coffee Shop is hosting weekly gatherings for people who want to affect positive political change at the state level, but don’t know how to get started.  Dubbed “Bluesdays at Fuel” because “the opposite of orange is blue,” the weekly meetings will take place at 4 pm on Tuesdays at their Lafayette location (106 S 16th St, Lafayette, 47905).  You can find more information in this recurring Facebook event.
  

Good news

• StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative is an organization that is dedicated to recording, sharing, and preserving the stories of veterans, service members, and their families, and they will be visiting Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 26, for a free “Lunch and Learn” at 12 pm at WFYI (1630 North Meridian St., Indianapolis, 46202).  You can find more information and sign up here.
  
• The Tippecanoe County Historical Association has launched their Bicentennial Walking Tour series!  “Discover the history and architectural beauty of Lafayette’s houses of worship during our first tour on Saturday, March 29 at 1 pm!  Led by TCHA volunteers and staff, this walking tour will take you to five locations throughout downtown. While the path has been designed to ensure walking periods will be short, please dress in appropriate footwear for walking and standing.”  This tour is free, but registration is required as space is limited.  You can learn more and register here. 
  
  A second Downtown Houses of Worship tour will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 1 pm.  There will also be a tour of Greenbush Cemetery (1408 N 12th St, Lafayette) on Saturday, May 3, at 1 pm.  You can learn more and register here.  More tours will be added as details are confirmed.

• The Innocence Project just announced that it is partnering with the NYU School of Law, which will deepen the capacity and impact of their work and provide NYU students with invaluable hands-on exposure to wrongful conviction litigation and advocacy.  Through this partnership, NYU students will gain access to some of the country’s leading experts on wrongful conviction, and The Innocence Project will tap into NYU’s centers of academic excellence to advance the scope of our work.  You can learn more about how this partnership will help advance the innocence movement here.

What is inspiring us

• Michelle recently rewatched the video of the presentation that Matt Gyure led during Greater Lafayette Indivisible’s 2021 virtual Resistance Fair titled “Disinformation – Conspiracy, Social Media, MSM, and You.”  It’s still applicable today (unfortunately), and it’s a great resource as we all navigate social media.
  
• Rebecca enjoyed reading this story about a love letter that Haines, Alaska sent to its neighbours across the Canadian border in Haines Junction, Yukon.
  
• Trans runner and inclusivity activist Cal Calamia just became the first person to win the New York City Marathon in the nonbinary category!  You can read the story here.
  
• Transgender Representatives Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell delivered powerful speeches on the Montana House floor earlier this month in opposition to a bill that would create a separate indecent exposure law for transgender people.  Following their speeches, 13 Republicans, the most of any anti-trans bill this cycle, flipped and voted against the bill.  You can read more about it and watch videos of the speeches here.

Do you have an organization, an event, or a bit of good news that you’d like us to include in a future newsletter?  Email [email protected]!

As always, you can donate toward our efforts here.  Donations are used for voter registration booth fees, supplies, and administrative costs.  Thank you for your continued support!

Welcome to the next edition of the Greater Lafayette Indivisible (“GLI”) newsletter.  We’re imagining that activism is like a waterway that builds in intensity.  In addition to calls to action, we’ll also provide information about upcoming events and opportunities to foster community, good news, and places in which we’re finding inspiration.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up to receive future editions by clicking here.

Ripples (small direct actions)

• Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) has a Match Campaign from March 1 to April 30.  Every dollar donated to the LUM Immigration Clinic during that time will be matched up to a specified amount.  Local businesses, individuals, and groups will donate the “match money” prior to the campaign.  You can find more information here.
  
• Get a library card!  We are so lucky to have 5 (!) branches of the Tippecanoe County Public Library and the West Lafayette Public Library.  Did you know that you can use your library card to access streaming services like Kanopy, OverDrive, Libby, and Hoopla?  You can borrow audiobooks, e-books, and magazines, and stream movies and shows right on your phone, tablet, or computer.  Public libraries are often under threat of defunding, so strengthening support by getting a library card is an act of resistance.
  
• Relatedly, The West Lafayette Public Library (208 W Columbia St., West Lafayette) is hosting a free screening of two PBS documentaries: “Free for All: The Public Library” and “Read or Restrict.”  The event will take place on Saturday, March 29, from 2-3:30 pm in the Elm and Maple Rooms on the second floor.  It is free to the public and no RSVP is required.  You can find more information here.  In addition to street parking, parking is also available in the garage across the street at 117 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette.  The Library staff can validate your ticket at the front desk.
  
• De-Trash the Wabash on Saturday, April 5 from 9 am – 12 pm.  Register here by April 2.  Check in at the Riverside Skating Rink building at Tapawingo Park at 9 am, then gather your supplies and head out to your site.  Pizza lunch will be provided back at Tapawingo Park at 12 pm. Be sure to bring your water bottle and refill it from the Indiana American Water truck.  You can find more information in the Facebook event and County website.
  
• The People’s Union USA has posted a list of upcoming movements, including dates during which they recommend either complete Economic Blackouts or specific boycotts.  You can find the list on their website.
  
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project to stop providing legal services to detained immigrant children. This is an unprecedented affront to the rights of immigrant children and new terrain for their organization.  The Florence Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services, social services, and advocacy to immigrants facing detention and potential deportation.  The detained immigrant children they serve through the Unaccompanied Children Program (UCP) arrive in the United States without a parent or a legal guardian, are in government custody, and will face the full force of the government in their immigration case.  Without the services provided through the UCP, children, no matter their age, will be forced to represent themselves against a trained government prosecutor.  You can support their work by donating here.
  

Rush (action at the county level)

• Consider running for office in 2026.  It feels like the midterm elections are a long way away, but now is the time to prepare to run.  The County website has a list of the offices that are up for election in 2026, and many of them are local.  GLI will host its “Run For Something” seminar again soon, so be on the lookout for that.  In the meantime, you can watch a video of the presentation “How the Local and State Democratic Party Functions” from Greater Lafayette Indivisible’s 2021 virtual Resistance Fair and hosted by Lisa Dullum.  As a reminder, GLI is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization and it is nonpartisan.  However, GLI supports progressive candidates and policies, and most of those are affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Rapids (action at the state level)

When the legislature reconvenes on Monday, March 3, it will be the second half of the legislative session, when House bills are sent to the Senate, and Senate bills are sent to the House. Only bills that were passed by the first chamber are eligible to cross over, meaning many bills are essentially “dead.” However, language from dead bills can be resurrected into live bills via amendments, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

• Indivisible activists around the state are working on a coordinated plan to visit our Senators every week.  Since the Indianapolis offices are closest to Lafayette, we will plan to pick a day or 2 in March and schedule ½ – 1 hour visits for Todd Young’s office on the Northside of Indianapolis for the full day from 9-5pm to meet with his staff and voice our concerns over Musk, his cabinet, bills, immigration, women’s health, LGTBQ+, voting rights, any or all.
  
• The Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF) is hosting Legislative Actions Hours from 5:30-6:30 pm on Thursdays through May 15.  Using a reproductive justice lens, they will identify, track, and lobby on important bills moving in the Indiana State House. During the weekly hour-long Zoom call, attendees will take action on those bills together.  You can find more information and sign up for specific Thursdays here.
  
• MADVoters (Mutually Assured Democracy) is utilizing their “Bill Tracker” feature on their website during the state legislative session, where you can keep track of a bill as it makes its way through the legislative process and advocate as needed.  You can also keep up with their current initiatives here.
  
• The League of Women Voters of Indiana has been posting action alerts for state legislation on their Facebook page.  Each alert includes a summary of the proposed bill, a suggested action (oppose or support), and a way to contact the appropriate elected officials.

Other opportunities for this month:

• Indiana is one of the 17 states that are suing to end protections for students with special needs.  You can read more about it here.  Call Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita at (317) 232-6201 and ask him to protect Section 504.
  
• Check out the Indiana fREADom to Read coalition.  They are a grassroots coalition of passionate Hoosiers dedicated to safeguarding the fundamental freedom to read. Their collective efforts are geared towards ensuring every Hoosier enjoys the unrestricted freedom to read and access books of all genres.  Their work is organized and supported by the Indiana Library Federation.

• Hoosiers For Democracy is a growing movement of Indiana citizens who are concerned about the erosion of democratic norms, the continual drumbeat of extremism, and the persistent undermining of our democratic institutions.  They recently started a Substack newsletter, which you can find here.
  
• Women4Change Indiana is dedicated to empowering women to break barriers, challenge norms, and lead transformative change in their communities and beyond.  Their mission is to create an Indiana where women of all backgrounds can access the resources, opportunities, and support they need to live safe and fulfilling lives. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, they strive to amplify women’s voices, elevate their leadership, and drive social and economic progress for all.  You can find more information on their website (linked above) or their Facebook page.
  

Roar (action at the national level)

• Utilize the website 5calls.org.  5 Calls makes it easy for you to reach your members of Congress and make your voice heard.  They research issues, write scripts that clearly articulate a progressive position, figure out the most influential decision-makers, and collect phone numbers for their offices.  All you have to do is call.
  
• We are hosting an evening of letter and postcard writing in support of Vote Forward and the Blue Wave Postcard Movement on Thursday, March 13, from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Walnut Room of the West Lafayette Public Library (208 W Columbia Street, West Lafayette, second floor).  We will be writing to voters in Wisconsin to help increase the participation of historically underrepresented communities in the upcoming Supreme Court Race.  We’ll provide all of the supplies, so you’ll just need to bring your passion for voting and a desire to encourage Wisconsin voters to get out and vote.  You can sign up via Mobilize here.
  
  In addition to street parking, parking is also available in the garage across the street at 117 N Chauncey Ave, West Lafayette.  The Library staff can validate your ticket at the front desk.
  

Vote Forward is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that empowers grassroots volunteers to send handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote. Blue Wave Postcard Movement’s mission is to mobilize millions of advocates, constituents, and voters in local and national elections, as well as to raise awareness of social and environmental justice issues through strategic and well-designed peer-to-peer postcard outreach campaigns.

• If you haven’t yet read the new guide from Indivisible national, you can find it here.

Opportunities to build community

• Greater Lafayette Commerce is hosting the second annual Latino Business Expo on Friday, March 7, from 2-6 pm at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds (1406 Teal Road, Lafayette, 47905).  You can find more information here.
  
• We All Belong Greater Lafayette is hosting a Community Action Fair on Saturday, March 8, from 1-5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church (333 Meridian Street, West Lafayette).  This event is free and open to the public and it will feature local activist organizations that will have tables to discuss their groups with the community.
  
  Around 2:30 pm, there will be an option to move to the sanctuary where, after brief introductions, everyone will break up into groups to discuss what common goals we have and how we can support each other and work together to get us through the next 4 years.  The table displays will remain available for visitors throughout the afternoon.
  
  Parking around the building is limited, but street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood.  Please be courteous when parking in front of neighbors’ houses.  We All Belong also has a community calendar on their website with other upcoming events and opportunities.
  
• Indivisible will be hosting its next monthly gatherings on Wednesday, March 12, and Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to 7 pm at Second Flight Books (2122 Scott St, Lafayette).  This will be an informal opportunity to meet like-minded folks, discuss opportunities for action, strategize together, and socialize; depending on what you need for renewal.  We’ll provide snacks and nametags, so you’ll just need to bring yourself and a willingness to network.  Parking is available in their lot off of Reynolds and on Scott Street.  Additional parking can be found at and around Columbian Park nearby.  You can sign up via Mobilize here.
  
• Fuel Coffee Shop is hosting weekly gatherings for people who want to affect positive political change at the state level, but don’t know how to get started.  Dubbed “Bluesdays at Fuel” because “the opposite of orange is blue,” the weekly meetings will take place at 4 pm on Tuesdays at their Lafayette location (106 S 16th St, Lafayette, 47905).  You can find more information in this recurring Facebook event.
  

Good news

• MADVoters has published a list of state bills that we defeated together!  You can find it on their Facebook page here.
  
• The Friends of the Tippecanoe County Public Library is hosting a 4-day spring book sale at the Downtown Library (627 South Street, Lafayette).  It begins on Friday, March 7, with a Member’s Night for Friends of TCPL (memberships are $10 per year and are available at the door), and it ends on Monday, March 10.  The times and discounts vary each day of the sale.  You can find more information here.
  
• Representative Chris Campbell’s bill to allow foster children to open bank accounts has passed in the House Committee.  You can read the Purdue Exponent’s article here
  
• The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is hosting a bicentennial exhibition that is meant to feature regional art and honor Lafayette’s history.  Titled “Bicentennial: Regionally Related Works from the Permanent Collection,” this exhibit will be housed in the Weil Gallery through June 13, 2025.  You can find more information here.

What is inspiring us

• West Lafayette High School is performing the pro-labor musical “Newsies” in the auditorium at 7 pm on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8.  It depicts the 1899 “newsboys” strike against publisher Pulitzer and Hearst.  (Book by Harvey Fierstein)  Come hear a bunch of Gen-Z kids singing about labor organizing and yelling “Strike! Strike! Strike!”  Tickets will be about $12 at the door.  Contact Beth with questions: [email protected].
  
• Exodus Refugee Immigration in Indianapolis recently hosted a letter writing advocacy day to advocate for their clients and immigrant neighbors, and they had a great turnout.  They have compiled a document on their website for folks to write their own letters to their federal and state elected officials.  It includes who to contact, how to contact them, and what legislation is most concerning right now.  There are also sample letters that you can use as a starting point.
  
• The Lakota People’s Law Project recently released their Decolonized Reading List for 2025, which you can find here.  The Lakota People’s Law Project is part of Sacred Defense Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) law and policy center.  You can read more about their work here.

• Matt recently read this essay called “They Are a Minority” by Hamilton Nolan and found it to be insightful and encouraging.

Do you have an organization, an event, or a bit of good news that you’d like us to include in a future newsletter?  Email [email protected]!

As always, you can donate toward our efforts here.  Donations are used for voter registration booth fees, supplies, and administrative costs.  Thank you for your continued support!